One of the more exciting new features of FileMaker 16 is the adoption of the cURL library within the “Insert from URL” script step. Using cURL as a command-line tool is relatively straightforward, but the syntax can often be a hurdle.
This is a quick tip about how PSOS can vastly improve performance of the ExecuteSQL script step. Recently we received feedback on one of our solutions that uses Execute SQL to build a virtual list used in a picker window. The feedback had to do with the slow performance of loading the picker window. The user complained of the window sometimes taking up to 30 minutes to load. Obviously this design was not ideal!
Late last month, 1,600 FileMaker developers descended on Phoenix for the annual FileMaker developers conference, this year held at the Marriott Desert Springs Resort. I understand attendance was up by about 300 people this year and the hotel ran out of rooms a couple of months ago.
Pivot tables have always been difficult in FileMaker, that is until now. We have come up with a solution that makes them easy to create and share.
“97% of the time, Premature optimization is the root of all evil”
I think I first read this quote of Tony Hoare in McConnell’s “Code Complete” and have thought about it many times when doing code reviews, during my own programming, and when talking with others about programming problems they’re trying to solve.
With the release of FileMaker 16, we have seen a great number of new and improved script steps. FileMaker 16 extended the capability of the Save as PDF script step, now allowing it to work partially with WebDirect, FileMaker Go, and Server, however there are a few things of note.
This spring and summer are shaping up to be pretty interesting for FileMaker and 4th Dimension developers from an education and skills development perspective. I have three training seminars and developers conferences on the schedule.
“Modular programming is a software design technique that emphasizes separating the functionality of a program into independent, interchangeable modules, such that each contains everything necessary to execute only one aspect of the desired functionality.”
